Panasonic announces a new DSLR without the R

A digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera without the reflex part (mirror box), the new LUMIX DMC-G1 will be released on October 31 this year. Matsushita widely known as Panasonic claimed to have created the “world’s most beautiful EVF (electronic viewfinder)” less the mirror box making the DMC-G1 potentially lighter than comparable DSLR cameras. The device has automatic infrared sensoring function that would detect the eye peeping through the EVF, so that the camera switches view from LCD monitor to the EVF.

It’s too early to judge whether this new camera technology would be widely adopted or even replace the dominant DSLR cameras. Real-time conversion of analog images through the electronic viewfinder is going to be a big stumbling block here, I reckon, but the rapid advancement of acceleration technology may catch up on the technology and help the proliferation of mirror-less DSL cameras. Tech-On has a preliminary review of LUMIX DMC-G1 camera, and also an interview with the Matsushita planning/developers team.